The lifetime of protons in the Van Allen radiation belts is limited by several loss mechanisms. During geomagnetically quiet periods the principal ones are probably Coulomb scattering and charge exchange with the components of the partly ionized exosphere. The Coulomb scattering lifetime has been calculated as a function of proton energy and equatorial scattering density by Wentworth, MacDonald, and Singer [1959]. The charge exchange lifetime is calculated here using experimentally measured cross sections.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
H. B. Liemohn (1961) studied this question.